A writer at SI took to listing his picks for the most memorable - good or bad - musical performances at a sporting event. That Carl Lewis clip! Click the links for youtube clips (if available):


With Prince set to perform at halftime of Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 4, it's time to look at the most unforgettable performances (in no particular order) from various sporting events. These aren't necessarily the best performances, but a combination of the best, worst and most controversial.

1. Janet Jackson at Super Bowl XXXVIII: We start with the performance that caused more buzz and trouble than any another in history -- Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. When Justin Timberlake sang the line, "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song," and then carried out the promise by ripping part of Jackson's top, it became the most rewound moment in TiVo history and changed the standard guidelines for TV broadcasters.

2. Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV: Before the singer's most famous moment on television -- telling Diane Sawyer that "crack is whack" -- Houston was best remembered for her emotional rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner during the Gulf War.

3. Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game: While Houston belted out a traditional version of the national anthem, it was Gaye's unique and soulful rendition that whipped the Great Western Forum crowd into a frenzy. How many times have you heard a crowd actually clap along to The Star-Spangled Banner?

4. U2 at Super Bowl XXXVI: On Feb. 3, 2002, just four months after the Sept. 11 attacks, the band performed Where the Streets Have No Name while the names of the victims scrolled upward on an enormous backdrop during the song. The result was an uplifting, moving and emotional rememberance.

5. Ashlee Simpson at the 2005 Orange Bowl: Before Ashlee got some plastic surgery and became hot, she was known as Jessica's younger sister who was busted for lip synching on Saturday Night Live in October 2004. A few months later, Ashlee took to the stage at halftime of the Orange Bowl, but unlike the folks who were in the audience at SNL, the Miami crowd let Simpson know what it thought of her screeching performance and booed her off the stage. For you maschochists reading this, here's a longer version of the clip.

6. Michael Jackson at Super Bowl XXVII: In what has to be the most bizarre Super Bowl halftime performance ever, Jackson sang a medley of his hits while being joined on stage (around the stage, actually) by 3,500 children. Michael Jackson and 3,500 children. I'll leave it at that. The best part of the clip comes at the 1:20ish mark when Michael is giving a speech about remaking the planet into a haven of joy while holding a microphone, but then quickly has to start singing and completely botches the lip synching.

7. Caroline Marcil at a 2005 U.S.-Canada exhibition hockey game: In a clip made famous on the Internet, poor Caroline twice botched the words to the anthem, went to the dressing room to get the lyrics, came back and fell hard onto the ice before leaving without trying to sing the song for a third time.

8. Carl Lewis at a 1993 Nets game: Lewis attempted to put his own spin on the national anthem, but from the first looooong note, you knew he was in trouble. And so did he. Midway through the song, Lewis promised to make up for his shaky start. Moral of the story: Lewis can run, but he can't keep promises.

9. Roseanne Barr at a Padres game in 1990: The sitcom star screamed the national anthem, spit, grabbed her crotch and almost caused a riot at Jack Murphy Stadium. The incident became a major news story and Barr received death threats. Could you imagine someone trying to do this today. Unfortunately -- or maybe fortunately -- there is no video of the incident online, but this link is more than enough.

10. Borat at the Rodeo: In his recent hit movie, the Kazakhstani reporter started off as a hit when he addressed the Salem, Va., crowd and told them he supported America's war of terror. However, when Borat tried to sing Kazakhstan's national anthem and said all other countries are run by little girls, the fans quickly turned on him.

anyone remember this one:

June 17,1994 Jon Secada fell through the rostrum as he was approaching the stage to perform to an estimated one billion television viewers during the opening ceremonies of the World Cup soccer tournament in Chicago. Secada could not pull himself out, and since the band was already playing, he began singing with only his head above stage level. He was eventually pulled from the hole and moved to centre stage to finish his performance. Secada was later diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder

CHIC0 said:

I do remember that one! And seriously...watch the Carl Lewis clip

RipHer2Shreds said:

ouch!!


p.s. i didn't know he sang too.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Now what do you think made the horse freak out?

CHIC0 said:

He doesn't.

AlexdeParis said:

And almost NONE of these performances were memorable for their MUSIC and thats sad.

lastdecember said:

Marvin Gaye's rendition of The Star Spangled Banner is my all-time favorite.

Robert Goulet forgot the words to the Nat'l anthem a long time ago. That was big news.

I remember Mariah sang the Nat'l anthem before she was known, and it made a huge impression.

carmand said:

That is really good

RipHer2Shreds said:

Ashlee's caterwauling wasn't fooling this crowd (good for them).




This one was definitely "The Bomb" (literally & figuratively).


Good post Rip.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

And welcome back! Hope your trips were good.

NDRU said:

it is quite sensual ... female articles of clothing were thown to him ... it was performed at the Fabulous Forum in L.A. before an NBA All-Star game year in the 80's

carmand said:

legna said:

I didn't see any clothing being thrown at him in that clip

they came from the upper sections ... i kept one ... article, that is, not a women

I can't believe no one brought up the Destiny's Child performance at the NBA All Star game a few years ago in Philly. They got booed unmercifully! It was awesome.....

Anita Baker performed the national anthem at an NBA championship game, a few years ago, and killed it (but suffered through some sound problems).

I remember Patti Labelle nailing it a few years back, too.

Thanks God we are spared from this in Europe!

MikeMatronik said:

Europe never has music at a sporting event?

RipHer2Shreds said:

Well I can speak for my country:

Here in Portugal, we only play the national anthem on international games or important games. There's no singer...the entire audience sings the anthem. So no Cher, Whitneys or other divas to ruin. Also we don't have a sissy games like American Football.

Soccer is the main sport, the real football!

By the way FC Porto is the best team ever!!!!



[Edited 1/23/07 5:47am]

MikeMatronik said:

But this thread isn't about the national anthem. There are a few in the original piece that are performances of the artist's own work.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I know, but concept of having performance is displacing imo. Thanks God we haven't caught that american trend!!!

It takes people away from the main event that is the game. We portuguese would rather see some naked women strolling on the field, than a "Madonna" jumping and scretching like a dog in heat.
[Edited 1/23/07 5:51am]